Interesting to hear more opinions about the EV.

I have the beginnings of a Westy (old style) in my basement.
Sink/refer unit. I was thinking of either building a stealth EV out of
the transporter (panel) van model with diesel/5 spd., or going with a
full fledged long WB EV. Might not be worth the time from the sounds
of things.

Anyone know which diesel was used in the panel EV's? Is it any good?

I think it was Malcolm Stebbins that had posted an informative blurb
on his experience with the EV camper. (thanks Malcom)

True Malcolm?

It was useful.

Cheers,

Neil.

On 2/6/07, The Bus Depot <vanagon@busdepot.com> wrote:
> > The other day I went to check out a '93 Westy.
> > I was surprised how small the space is inside.  Cramped.
> > This was not a long model that would have had an extra length
> > of foot and a half in the "lounge" area, so the door where we
> > have the fridge, could not open.  I was surprised that the
> > height was about four inches less.  The lifter of the top was
> > in the front and not very practical there.  It also felt like
> > it is also narrower than the Vanagon inside.  The engine was
> > 2.5 five cylinder but did not pull better than our 2.1L.  All
> > that plastic in front was putting me off.  Too syntetic all over.
> > I was surprised how much lesser the interior space was.
> > Otherwise it had the same cabinets and things we do.  There
> > was not one feature that would stick out as a positive, a
> > good reason to get it for.  Maybe the five cylinder engine
> > only and the front wheel drive factor and the ABS brakes.
> > The rest would rather make me not to buy it.  Plus, the
> > sliding door does not open from the inside.  Maybe that was
> > possible on the later years.
> > So, all in all, it was a great disappointment.
> > Just in case one would like to gravitate towards one.
>
>
> I checked out a Canadian '93 Westy whose owner stopped by the shop for parts
> some time ago, and had the same overall reaction. Compared to a Vanagon
> Westy, the short-wheelbase EV Westy just seemed cramped. (The EV Winnebago,
> incidentally, is based on a longer wheelbase.)  Someone once claimed that
> the actually interior volume is not significantly lower, but empirically it
> definitely felt that way!  Another drawback is that as a rule, Eurovan parts
> are considerably more expensive than similar Vanagon parts, due to the much
> lower U.S. sales volume (hence less economy of scale).  My reaction was that
> if I were to buy a Eurovan camper at any time down the road, it would have
> to be a Winnebago version, just because of the longer wheelbase.
>
> - Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>   www.busdepot.com
>   (215)  234-VWVW
>
> _____________________________________________
> Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil